It’s hard to take Bruce Arians at his word that the Cleveland Browns are the only team he’d come out of retirement to coach next year.

But it’s still telling that when asked this week if he’s interested in coaching the Green Bay Packers, he said no.

“Not at all," Arians told CBS Sports Radio. “If I ever return to coaching it will only be in Cleveland.”

The fact is, the Packers, who have grown used to being considered one of the NFL’s gems, aren’t the league’s most attractive head-coach opening this offseason. As Arians suggested, that honor already belongs to the Browns.

While the Packers have a lot going to attract a new coach — their history, a sustained winning culture and an abundance of resources — the Browns have more.

It starts with personnel, where it looks like Cleveland has a keeper in rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield plus budding young stars at the two most important positions on defense (end Garrett Myles and cornerback Denzel Ward). The Packers have a star quarterback who’s suddenly blemished and a defense short on talent.

The Browns are also swimming in salary-cap room to sign free agents and extend contracts. According to Spotrac, they have a league-high $54 million in cap space, which they can carry over to next year, and will have another $81 million in cap room next year.

The Packers are in decent cap shape but can’t compete with the Browns: $5.3 million in cap room this year, and $40.6 million in 2019.

The biggest thing working against the Browns is owner Jimmy Haslem, who has a history of inserting himself into football matters. The Browns’ 24-83 record during his tenure tells you all you need to know about how that has worked out. But general manager John Dorsey's early success could help there.

That's not to say the Browns’ advantages make the Packers’ job unappealing. Far from it.

“This is the Green Bay Packers, this is one of the cornerstones of the National Football League with a Hall of Fame quarterback,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said this week.

Or as an assistant coach with another team said: “Because of the culture it is a much more attractive job than a lot of them out there.”

One of the standard lines in the NFL is that there are only 32 head-coaching and GM jobs available, so they’re all good. But some rate higher than others, and after what's happened with the Packers this season, their future Hall of Fame quarterback now cuts both ways.

Aaron Rodgers has had two sustained stretches of mediocre play in the last four years. The first was a 19-game run in 2015 and 2016, when he put up an 8-11 record and 88.9 rating. The other has been this season’s 4-7-1 stretch with a 99.3 rating, which helped get Mike McCarthy fired Sunday night.

That's something prospective candidates will at least have to investigate. Some might be wary of taking over a team with a 35-year-old quarterback they hear is either difficult to work with, in decline or both. Others will be sure they have what it takes to help a highly talented passer play some of his best football late in his career, like Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Brett Favre.

“It would be something where that coach would have to have a face-to-face conversation and tell (Rodgers), ‘I want to work with you,’” a longtime assistant coach in the league said. “I don’t work for you, but I do want to work with you and make sure we get this thing done.”

Said another league source: “Maybe Rodgers can play five years and maybe his (knee) injury screwed him up this year, I don’t know. Or maybe he’s got diminished skills. All I’m saying is, you’re banking on the quarterback having three to four really good years. If he doesn’t, you’re (in trouble).”

For the last quarter century, the Packers have been a destination for coaches and scouts for two other reasons: their football culture free of ownership interference, and a willingness to spend money on facilities that stack up with anyone in the league.

The culture was largely a result of a front-office structure in which their general manager had full authority on all football decisions. The Packers’ GM from 1992 through 2017 was boss of everything football, coach and salary-cap manager included.

President/CEO Mark Murphy changed that last January and now heads football operations. Like this season, the next coach will report to him, as will Gutekunst and vice-president/football operations Russ Ball.

That, too, can cut both ways.

“I like the fact that there’s one guy (in football) you answer to,” said a league source who prefers the fully empowered GM.

Every front-office structure has its weaknesses, and Murphy was right Monday when he said relationships are more important than structure. I also don’t doubt Murphy and Gutekunst when they say they get along great. But relationships can change over time, especially when you add two more parties (Ball and the coach) to the mix.

Murphy also is right that some candidates might prefer to report to him rather than the GM. But my guess is the previous structure was a better draw, even if Murphy isn’t a wild card like Haslem and many other owners in the league.

“(The new structure) opens the door for a lot of back stabbing,” a longtime scout in the league said.

Said another scout: “Whatever Murphy is, (in Green Bay) at least you don’t have to report to a crazy billionaire.”

As for facilities, the Packers can compete with anyone to attract coaches and players: The Don Hutson Center, the smaller CRIC training field, and state-of-the-art facilities for weight training, medical treatment and dining.

If you look at some of the other jobs that also might come open, you’d only prefer the New York Jets if you think Sam Darnold is going to be a top quarterback. Baltimore has a good culture but questions at quarterback. Denver has a good culture but not a quarterback. And Tampa Bay and Buffalo don’t have a quarterback or culture.

So yes, coaching the Packers remains a coveted job in the NFL. But it’s behind the Browns this year.

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Jan. 12, 2019: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill dives for more yardage during an AFC divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won the game, 31-13, for the team's first home playoff win in 25 years. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 20, 2013: The Baltimore Ravens' Michael Oher (74), Marshal Yanda (73) and Gino Gradkowski stand on the snow-covered field during the national anthem before playing the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Ravens won the game, 29-26. Patrick Smith, Getty Images

Sept. 25, 2011: Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams gets tackled by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers won the game, 16-10. Jeremy Brevard, US PRESSWIRE

Jan. 16, 2011: Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte attempts to jump into the end zone but is stopped short by the Seattle Seahawks during a 2010 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field. The Bears won the game, 35-24. Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Dec. 20, 2010: The Chicago Bears' Devin Hester breaks away from the Minnesota Vikings' Chad Greenway (52) for a 64-yard touchdown on a punt return. The game is being played at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium because of damage to the Metrodome roof. The Bears won, 40-14. Andy King, AP

Jan 20, 2008: New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin shouts to his team from the sidelines during the second quarter of the 2007 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau FIeld. The Giants beat the Packers, 23-20, in overtime. Todd Rosenberg, US PRESSWIRE

Nov. 20, 2008: Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes reacts after a catch for a first down while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 27-10. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Dec. 16, 2007: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor walks into the end zone after scoring the winning touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Jaguars won the game, 29-22. Rick Stewart, Getty Images

Dec. 16, 2007: A grounds crew worker blows snow off the field during a break in the action during the game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. The Browns won the game, 8-0. Tony Dejak, AP

Feb. 4, 2007: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning directs his team in the huddle in the third quarter of the Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears at Dolphin Stadium. The Colts won the game, 29-17, in the first Super Bowl played in the rain. Alex Brandon, AP

Nov. 27, 2006: Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander rushes against the Green Bay Packers during a game in Seattle. Alexander ran for a season-high 201 yards to lead the Seahawks to a 34-24 win on "Monday Night Football." ELAINE THOMPSON, AP

Dec. 11, 2005: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis gets by Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher for a first down in the snow at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 21-9. KEITH SRAKOCIC, AP

Sept. 26, 2004: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scrambles out of the pocket against the Miami Dolphins during a downpour in at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The Steelers won the game, 13-3. STEVE MITCHELL, AP

Jan. 19, 2002: Adam Vinatieri #kicks the winning field goal against the Oakland Raiders in the 2001 AFC divisional playoff game at Foxboro Stadium. The Patriots won, 16-13, in overtime in the famous "Tuck Rule" game. Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Dec. 17, 2000: Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George follows his blocking into the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. The Titans won the game, 24-0. TONY DEJAK, Associated Press

Oct. 22, 1995: Kansas City Chiefs running back Marcus Allen dives for a 1-yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. It was the 100th career NFL touchdown for Allen. The Chiefs won the game, 21-7 in a driving snow storm. JOE MAHONEY, Associated Press

Oct. 15, 1984: A maintenance worker paints orange stripes on the field as more than 10 inches of snow falls during the Monday Night Football game between the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos won the game, 17-14. AP

Dec. 12, 1982: A worker at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro drives a tractor to clear the snow away while members of the New England Patriots watch during a game against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots won the game, 3-0. Mike Kullen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jan. 10, 1982: San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts face is obscured by his steaming breath during the 1981 AFC Championship Game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Bengals won, 27-7, in what became known as the "Freezer Bowl." Anonymous, AP

Jan. 4, 1981: Oakland Raiders defensive back Mike Davis (36) cuts in front of Cleveland Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome to intercept a pass from Browns quarterback Brian Sipe in the end zone with less than a minute to go in a 1980 AFC divisional playoff game in frigid conditions Cleveland. The Raiders won the game, 14-12, that would become known as "Red Right 88." Associated Press

Dec. 27, 1977: Minnesota Vikings running back Chuck Foreman (44) swings to get away from the Los Angeles Rams' Jim Youngblood during the rain-soaked NFC divisional playoff game in Los Angeles that would become known as the "Mud Bowl." The Vikings won the game, 14-7, that was played at the L.A. Coliseum. AP

Dec. 31, 1967: Players spill in all directions as a fumble occurs during the "Ice Bowl" at Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, in one of the most famous games in NFL history. Associated Press

Dec. 19, 1948: Steve Van Buren (15) plunges over the goal line for the only touchdown in the Philadelphia Eagles' 7-0 win over the Chicago Cardinals in the 1948 NFL Championship Game at Shibe Park. The game was played during a significant snowfall. AP

Nov. 4, 1945: Boston Yanks halfback Johnny Grigas is stopped for no gain when the Detroit Lions' Jack Matheson, (82) tackles during a game played in heavy snow at Fenway Park in Boston. The Lions won the game, 10-9. FOX, AP

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